After seeing how easily the Kings got to the basket in the first half last night, Laker fans might be wondering if Andrew Bynum is close to returning. Answer: No. After hosting the Raptors (81!) on Tuesday, the Lakers have a rough trip (New Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah) in front of them.

The Lakers have lost more games since we bumped them up to the top spot on Feb. 25 — two — than they dropped in the first three-plus weeks of February. You don’t think it was us who jinxed them, do you?

SI.com
This Week: 6 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: -3

Kobe Bryant couldn’t bail them out at the last second in Sunday’s loss to the Kings that snapped a three-game winning streak. They head out on a four-game road trip at New Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah beginning Friday.